ON THE HORIZON

A preview of the coming attractions that some of our favrote film houses are cooking up in the weeks to come..

From April 2nd, Melbourne’s ASTOR THEATRE presents an incredible retrospective of the work of PIER PAOLO PASOLINI, alongside the work of film makers he inspired. A highly contentious film maker, as well as poet, writer, playwright and divisive political figure, Pasolini was murdered not long after his deeply controversial and notorious film SALO (1975) was released. Not only is this a chance to see the works of the Director, including SALO (1975), PIGSTY (1969) and MAMA ROMA (1962), but also films that were informed by his approach including IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES (1976) and those that influenced the film maker, including THE PASSION OF JOAN OF ARC (1925). Runs until May.

THE SILENT FILM FESTIVAL returns to San Francisco’s CASTRO THEATER in May to celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary of classics of the silent era. Running for seven days, the season will encompass an era of film in which preservationists have taken tremendous energy to preserve. Lineup announced soon. More info HERE.

This April, experience the majesty of master composer Ennio Morricone’s soaring work on the big screen at KINO, ROTTERDAM. Titles include ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (1968), WHITE DOG (1982), THE BIG GUNDOWN (1966) and INVESTIGATION OF A CITIZEN ABOVE SUSPICION (1970). More info HERE.

Los Angeles’ AMERICAN CINEMATHEQUE presents NEW JACK CITY (1991) from Director Mario Van Peebles. An era of new black cinema that portrayed the hopes, the future, but and also the rage, of the black experience in America, the 1990s ushered in what scholar / critic Manthia Diawara dubbed“new Black realism”. NEW JACK CITY opened four days after television outlets released the video of LAPD officers beating Rodney King. Screening April 9th, head to the link HERE for more info and some fascinating back story on the rocky debut in cinemas, including a sound byte from then 18 year old Ana DeVenay.

“Oh what a lovely day!” And yes what a lovely day indeed for fans of the futuristic Australian action classics that helped redefine the entire genre. At Quentin Tarantino’s NEW BEVERLY CINEMA in Los Angeles, strap in for the MADMAXATHON on April 16th and 17th. All Four movies; MAD MAX + THE ROAD WARRIOR + BEYOND THUNDERDOME + FURY ROAD all presented in glorious 35mm! More info HERE! Make sure to book early….

ORSON WELLES

The Egyptian Theatre presents a tribute to one of the great auteurs off cinema, Orson Welles. A master of noir, his career was plentiful whether acting or directing. Remarkably he shot his masterpiece CITIZEN KANE when he was only twenty five. Ensure to visit the grand Egyptian Theatre this week in Hollywood for the chance to experience some of Welles' best, and a few of his rarest, work on the big screen;

Orson Welles' talent and imagination were so prodigious that he spanned radio, film, television, books and theater and excelled in them all. His very first film, CITIZEN KANE, is generally considered one of the greatest movies ever made. Loosely inspired by the life of William Randolph Hearst, the film is a brilliant display of unusual lighting and camera angles, innovative use of sound and extended takes - as are such later features as Welles’ film noir masterpieces THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI and TOUCH OF EVIL.

Unfortunately, 1958’s TOUCH OF EVIL was the last time Welles had a major studio in his corner. But that never stopped him from making movies; with the drive and resourcefulness of an independent filmmaker, he continued to create such fascinating work as THE TRIAL, an adaptation of the nightmarish Franz Kafka novel, made inexpensively in Europe. Welles knew how to get the most out of every dollar on a film shoot, and during the last 20 years of his life would often funnel money he’d made as an actor into his cinematic pursuits.

Few men are better acquainted with this period of the director’s career than Stefan Dröessler of the Munich Film Museum, who has restored numerous self-financed Welles projects. Some of these are rather fragmentary, such as scenes shot for uncompleted films like the director’s adaptations of THE MERCHANT OF VENICE or THE DEEP. Much like Welles’ pseudo-documentary F FOR FAKE, these rarities offer a kaleidoscopic look into one of the most brilliant minds in cinema history.


SCREENING SCHEDULE

Thu, May 4th 7:30pm
THE TRIAL (1962 / DCP)
L.A Premiere of the new DCP Restoration

Franz Kafka’s classic novel of paranoia and conspiracy seems tailor-made for director Orson Welles. This labyrinthine, deliciously satiric, nightmare vision of a man (Anthony Perkins) accused of an unspecified crime emerges as a subtle allegory of Welles’ own Catch-22 tribulations working in the film industry. With a dream cast that includes Jeanne Moreau, Romy Schneider, Akim Tamiroff and Welles himself.
 

Fri, May 5th 7:30pm
Double Feature
TOUCH OF EVIL (1958 / DCP)
Orson Welles’ hallucinatory, off-kilter masterwork stars Charlton Heston in one of his finest performances as a Mexican policeman trapped on the wrong side of the border, where a corpulent, corrupt cop (Welles) tries to stop him from digging into the past. Janet Leigh co-stars as Heston’s new wife, menaced by leather-clad Mercedes McCambridge and her gang of juvenile delinquents. Co-starring Akim Tamiroff, Marlene Dietrich, Joseph Calleia.

THE LADY FROM SHANGHAI (1948 / DCP)
The camera is the star in one of director Orson Welles’ most phantasmagorical films, a dazzling noir thriller about a seaman, a crippled lawyer and his homicidal wife pursuing one another through a "bright, guilty world" of infidelity, deception and murder. The hall-of-mirrors climax is riveting. With Orson Welles, Rita Hayworth and Everett Sloane.

Sat, May 6th 7:30pm
ORSON WELLES RARITIES SPECIAL
Presented by the American Cinematheque, the Munich Film Museum and SEEfest

“Orson Welles, Shylock and King Lear,” 100 min. All his life, Orson Welles was fascinated by Shakespeare and tried to bring his plays to a broad audience. This illustrated lecture by Stefan Dröessler of the Munich Film Museum shows different approaches in different media (book, stage, radio, phonograph records, film, TV, video) used by Welles to create “Everybody’s Shakespeare.” It focuses on the plays “The Merchant of Venice” and “King Lear,” which Welles tried to adapt throughout his career. Along with unknown clips, pictures and documents, the 2015 reconstruction of the legendary fragment THE MERCHANT OF VENICE will be shown.

Followed by:

“Orson Welles Rarities,” 100 min. Join us for additional restored films and reconstructed fragments from the Munich Film Museum’s Orson Welles collection. The trailer of the unfinished thriller THE DEEP was digitally restored from the work print recently found in the vaults of Richard L. Bare. Portions of the TV film LONDON have been improved after the discovery of the original script in the Oja Kodar papers held at the University of Michigan. The beautiful screen tests for THE DREAMERS are “the most effective and convincing” of the first Orson Welles restorations done in Munich.

 

Sun, May 7th 7:30pm
Double Feature
CITIZEN KANE (1941 / DCP)
Orson Welles was only 25 when he directed this masterpiece, and it remains one of the most phenomenal motion pictures ever made. Welles, of course, also stars as Charles Foster Kane, a ruthless man who built a newspaper publishing empire and a character supposedly modeled after the real-life William Randolph Hearst. Trailblazing in so many respects, from Gregg Toland’s complex camera and lighting to Bernard Herrmann’s score to one of the finest ensemble casts (including Joseph Cotten, Everett Sloane and Agnes Moorehead) ever assembled. With an Academy Award-winning script by Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz.

F FOR FAKE (1974 / 35mm)
Orson Welles appears as "himself" (but which self? Master director? Magician? Media manipulator?) in this delightful essay on the nature of illusion, focusing on all types of fakery and fakers, including notorious art forger Elmyr de Hory and fraudulent Howard Hughes biographet forger Elmyr de Hory and fraudulent Howard Hughes biographer Clifford Irving. With Oja Kodar and Peter Bogdanovich.

Program notes by American Cinematheque. Visit them online HERE.

A DAMN FINE LYNCH RETROSPECTIVE AT THE MUSIC BOX

With Twin Peaks' third season airing on Showtime in May, what better way to prepare than with a full submersion into the world of David Lynch at Chicago's Music Box Theatre? This complete retrospective spans Lynch's entire body of work in film, television, and music.

This retrospective was programmed by Lynch expert Daniel Knox, who has cut together unique 20 minute pre-shows for each feature, and will be presenting a celebration of Twin Peaks for Saturday, April 29th's FIRE WALK WITH ME screening with Bang Bang Pie Shop selling fresh slices of pie.

To commemorate this film festival, the Music Box Theatre will be selling a limited quantity of screen printed posters at the box office as well as serving a Damn Fine Cup of David Lynch Signature Cup Organic Coffee while supplies last. 

Retrospective programme below;

THU, APR 27TH
MULHOLLAND DRIVE

FRI, APR 28TH
DAVID LYNCH SHORTS PROGRAM

FRI, APR 28TH
BLUE VELVET

FRI, APR 28TH
DAVID LYNCH: THE ART LIFE

FRI, APR 28TH
INDUSTRIAL SYMPHONY NO. 1

SAT, APR 29TH
WILD AT HEART

SAT, APR 29TH
BLUE VELVET

SAT, APR 29TH
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

SUN, APR 30TH
THE ELEPHANT MAN

SUN, APR 30TH
WILD AT HEART

SUN, APR 30TH
INLAND EMPIRE

MON, MAY 1ST
THE ELEPHANT MAN

MON, MAY 1ST
LOST HIGHWAY

MON, MAY 1ST
THE STRAIGHT STORY

MON, MAY 1ST
ERASERHEAD

TUE, MAY 2ND
DUNE

TUE, MAY 2ND
TWIN PEAKS: FIRE WALK WITH ME

TUE, MAY 2ND
LOST HIGHWAY

TUE, MAY 2ND
DAVID LYNCH SHORTS PROGRAM

WED, MAY 3RD
THE STRAIGHT STORY

WED, MAY 3RD
ERASERHEAD

WED, MAY 3RD
BLUE VELVET REVISITED

WED, MAY 3RD
MULHOLLAND DRIVE

THU, MAY 4TH
MEDITATION, CREATIVITY, PEACE

THU, MAY 4TH
DUNE

THU, MAY 4TH
MULHOLLAND DRIVE

Program notes by Music Box Theatre